An ObGyn group was the first specialty group to pilot this model in our system. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ interprofessional Task Force of Collaborative Practice published in March 2016 a strong recommendation that all practices across all specialties adopt team-based care.2 Among the aims of this care are that it should “respond to emerging demands and reduce undue burdens on health care providers.”
In order for this transformation to teambased care to be successful and sustainable at Bellin Health, we realized that we had to achieve 3 wins:
A win for the patient. Patients immediately notice that their physicians are now able to focus on them during the office visit, since the physicians no longer have to tend to the demands of the computer. In addition, since the CMAs/LPNs are with patients during the entire visit, the patients bond with them and feel the extra support from this relationship.
A win for the care team. Physician satisfaction has never been higher. Charts are usually closed at the end of each half-day. There is no need to take work home at night. CMAs/LPNs feel empowered and meaningfully involved in patient care. Their increase in satisfaction mirrors that of the physicians.
A win for the system. Not only are quality measures improving, but access improves since this team support increases efficiency. We are able to see more patients per day and are billing at a higher level of service, since there is more time to attend to more of the patient’s needs, thanks to the additional team support.
Team documentation can help bring the joy back
There is much talk about putting joy back into the practice of medicine. But the benchmark of any change needs to be whether it helps our patients. I believe that team documentation does. Happier, less burned-out physicians are able to better focus on patients during their visit. As one patient recently said to me at the end of a visit, “I feel like I’ve got my doctor back.” That is something that patients, and doctors alike, can feel good about.
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